Changeable-rate electricity-meter.



A. NIUOL. UHANGEABLE RATE ELECTRICITY METER. APPLICATION FILED DEO.14,1907.

920,623 Patented May4, 1909.

F IG. 1. v FIG. 2.

W/T/VZ5555 I mum/m A06 1/87 M0011 15'! 671M 77 25 clock work plate G.

9.0 ward the plate G, by a spring F.

NITED STATES) AUGUST NICOL, OF BERLIN, GI'IRMANY, AFSlGNOR TO BERGMA'NN ELEK'lRICITATS-WERKE AKTIENGESELLSUHAFTI, ()l BERLIN, (XFRMAKY, ('(YRIORATION Ob GERMANY.

CHANGEAB LE -BATE ELE CTRICITY-ME TER.

Specification of Letters l atent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed December 14, 1907. Serial No. 406,475.

ject of the Emperor of Germany, and resident of Berlin, Germany, have invented oertain new and useful Improvements in Changeable Rate Electricity \leters, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electricity meters,

and has for its object to provide a simple device for automatically changing the rate registered per kilowatt-hour at certain times of the day or night. it is customary in some countries to charge more for electricity dur ing the evening hours than at other times.

My apparatus will effect the desired changes automatically at the proper time.

A typical example of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure I being an elevation of the apparatus with parts in section, and Fig. 2 a face "icw thereof, with parts broken away.

A indicates a shaft which is mounted to turn and is also capable of slidin: lengthwise in the stationary dial-plate (I and the By means of gearing M, V, driven from the clock-work U, the shaft A is given one revolution in twentyfour hours. The shaft is also movable lengthwise in its bearings, being pressed to- A hand B and a cam arm C are rigidly secured to the shaft A, the gear M also being rigid on said shaft, and the gear V is of sufiicient width to keep both gears in engagement notwithstanding any longitudinal movement of the shaft A. I

The dial plate Ur is provided with a series of holes G" preferably screw-threaded and located at regular intervals (half-hour in-' 40 t-ervals as shown).

The central panel of the dial may bear the designations Day and Night. Into the holes G may be inserted pins or screws E adapted to engage, with their projecting inner ends, the beveled end portion 1) of the cam arm C The pins E will therefore force the shaft and the wheel M back (to the right in Fig. 1) when the cam arm engages said pins. Preferably the arm should engage one pin before it leaves the preceding pin, so as to keep the wheel M in Z the same position lengthwise of the shaft A l on that portion which is fitted with pins E. .Where no pins are inserted (see the lower portion of the dial 1n the drawings) the spring l will bring tl e wheel M as far as it will go toward the dial-plate G.

T he changing position of the disk or wheel M is utilized to throw into operation one or the other of two indicating or registering trains of gearing. 'lhe shifting mechanism illustrated comprises a lever I fnlcrumed at I and carrying a wheel ll ada ited to roll on the face of disk or wheel M an( to follow said wheel as it moves toward or from the dialplate G. A spring ll presses the wheel H against the wheel M. Another spring, L connerts the lever l with a crank arm K on a rock shal't li jonrnnled in hearings K ihis rocl; shaft governs the indicator or registering device of the meter in any wellknown or approved man nor, that is, with the whcelitl in the day position, a different (lower) rate per hour will obtain than during the night hours.

it will he observed that the hand B serves as a time-hand (hour-hand) and also'shows in connection with the screws or pins l1) during what hours a particular rate in force. The. device is very simple and inexpensive, and does not require a particularly strong (lOClUVl irlt.

The particular device shown in the draw ing for registering or indicating different rates according to the position of the wheel M is as follows: (in the roclrshaft K is secured rigirll an arm or stop VJ adapted to engage and hold one or the other of two toothed wheels N, N. (Only a portion of the wheel I\" is shown in Fig. 2.) The wheels N, N are mourned to turn independ ently about the same axis, and each of them rigidly connected with a gear wheel l F. Both wheels I, i are in engagement with a pinion U rotating about an axis disposed radially with respeL -L to the shaft 0 which carries an arm 0" on which said pinion is journaled. The wheel N is in permanent connection with the train of gearing P constituting an indicator or register, and the wheel N. is in permanent connection with a similar indicating or registering device I position of the arm W one or the other of the 4 Wheels N, N and of the indicating or registering trains i", Q, respectively will be held stationary, the other being operated by the motor of the meter. it is oi course understood that the two indicators are dilierent, corresponding to the two rates employed,

that is the indication of one of said devices ployed in the claims.

1 claim:

1. In a meter, the combination of a rotary member capable of moving lengthwise of its axis of rotation, stationary movable pins arranged at equal distances from said axis ar ranged to engage said member and controlling its position lengthwise of said axis, and shifting means actuated by the longitudinal movement of said member.

2. In a meter, the combination of the ro-- tary disk capable o imoving lengthwise of its engaging said disk and controlled by its longitudinal movement.

In a meter, the combination of the rotary shaft and the hand'carried thereby, the stationary dial-plate on which. said hand is adapted to indicate, a disk mounted to turn with the shaft, but movable lengthwise thereof, acam arm rigidly connected with 'said disk, projections extending from the dial-plate toward the cam arm and adapted to engage the same, a spring for ressing the cam arm toward the dial-plate, a lever engaging said disk andactuatcd by a longitudinal movement thereof, and mechanism controlled by said lever. i

In testimony whercoi I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witncsses this 29th day of N ovember, 1907.

AUGUST NICOL.

"Witnesses:

ilqENRY HAsrnn,

WoLnnMAn HAUPT. 

